Cyclophosphamide (CTX) is an immunosuppressive chemotherapy drug used to treat several types of cancers. The same research group previously showed that CTX induced Gram+ bacteria translocation (mainly Lactobacillus johnsonii and Enterococcus hirae) that elicited cell responses related to tumour control. A growing understanding of the role of the gut microbiota in controlling the tumour microenvironment has led to the emerging field of “oncomicrobiotics” (OMBs), which aims to elucidate the relationship between immunogenic commensals and anticancer immune responses.

In the same group of CTX-treated and antibiotic-induced dysbiotic mice, the researchers showed that oral treatment with E. hirae activated antitumour T cell responses in the intestinal mucosae and in secondary lymphoid organs such as the spleen, in parallel with the anticancer effects of CTX. Besides this, oral treatment withBarnesiella intestinihominis-a Gram- bacterium that resides in the colon- achieved a similar effect by inducing the infiltration of T cells in several mouse tumours. The work also demonstrated that NOD2 receptors expressed by intestinal epithelial cells limited the bioactivity of both E. hirae and B. intestinihominis.

On the other hand, the researchers analysed blood T cell responses in 38 end-stage lung and ovarian cancer patients. In those patients, memory T cell immune responses specific to E. hirae and B. intestinihominis predicted the period of time during and after treatment that they lived with the disease without getting worse.

In conclusion, the commensal species E. hirae and B. intestinihominis enhance the anticancer immune responses of CTX. “In future studies, we plan to identify which specific bacterial metabolites or immune-modulating molecules are responsible for enhancing the effects of CTX”, says co-senior study author Mathias Chamaillard.

Andreu PradosAndreu Prados holds a Bachelor of Science Degree in Pharmacy & Human Nutrition and Dietetics. Science writer specialised in gut microbiota and probiotics, working also as lecturer and consultant in nutrition and healthcare. Follow Andreu on Twitter @andreuprados

SITEMAP

CONTACT US

ABOUT US

Gut Microbiota for Health has been created by the Gut Microbiota and Health Section of the European Society for Neurogastroenterology & Motility (ESNM), member of United European Gastroenterology (UEG)